Local Sports

Broncos Fall Twice at SES

Published on Friday, 04 May 2018 22:28

Written by Erik Stone

Game 1: Southeast of Saline 7, Russell-Victoria 2

Game 2: Southeast of Saline 5, Russell-Victoria 4

GYPSUM-The Russell-Victoria Baseball team missed an opportunity to put a stranglehold on the North Central Activities Association Championship after losing both ends of a doubleheader Friday to Southeast of Saline by scores of 7-2 and 5-4.

In Game 1, Southeast of Saline tagged starting pitcher Kyle Farmer for single runs in the first and second innings. The Broncos tallied a single run in the top of the third inning when Farmer reached on an error. Southeast of Saline still led 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when the Trojans scored three runs, two of them on an infield single. Southeast then added two more runs in the fifth inning on a wild pitch. Russell-Victoria loaded the bases with nobody out to open the top of the seventh inning but could only push across one run. Farmer (3-3) struck out two while allowing seven hits in four plus innings of work.

The Broncos started hot in the nightcap with a four-run first inning. Walker Braun led off the game with a walk then Caden Oberle was hit by a pitch. Farmer singled home Braun for a 1-0 lead. Then Kirk Huser blasted his third homerun of the season to left to make the score 4-0 before Trojan starting pitcher Kyler Berry could record a single out. However, Berry settled down and Russell-Victoria would not score again for the rest of the game against Berry and two relievers.

The Trojans slowly chipped away at the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first and another run in the fifth. The Broncos held on to the lead late into the contest thanks to two double plays and two put-outs at home plate at critical moments. Walker Braun (0-1) relieved starting pitcher Cole Schmidtberger in the fifth inning and started the sixth with a strikeout of Eli Harris. However, the next two batters would reach on walks but Braun recorded a second out when Berry fouled out to Schmidtberger who had moved to catcher when Braun took over on the mound.

Then Braun hit Grant Tillburg to load the bases and then walked Hunter White to tie the score before hitting Bryant Banks with the sacks full to give Southeast the lead at 5-4. Tillburg, who got the win in relief for the Trojans retired the first two Broncos he faced in the seventh inning before Farmer reached base with a single to right field. Huser however ended the game with a groundout to short.

With the win Southeast of Saline now controls its own destiny for the NCAA title with just a doubleheader against Minneapolis left on their schedule. The Broncos have one more league twinbill at home on Thursday against Ellsworth on Senior Recognition Day.

Russell-Victoria (8-6, 6-2 NCAA) will be on the road Monday for a doubleheader at Colby. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.